Listening: A Circle Time and a Tricky Transition
Lesson 3 of 6 in Daily Routines, Transitions & Mealtimes · 25 minutes
Listen to a complete fifteen-minute preschool circle time, followed by the transition to snack. The lead educator, Andrea, uses songs, the calendar, the weather, and a fall-themed picture book. Then comes the harder part — moving sixteen children from the carpet to the snack table without losing anyone or anything. One child, Mateo, doesn't want to leave the carpet. Listen to how Andrea handles it without raising her voice.
What you'll learn
- Follow a fifteen-minute group activity with multiple voices and song
- Recognize the standard parts of a Canadian circle time (greeting, calendar, weather, story, song)
- Notice how an educator uses descriptive language with children
- Hear how an experienced educator handles transition resistance without raising her voice or threatening
- Pick up classroom phrases you can use in your own first weeks
From the transcript
[Setting: 9:55 a.m. preschool room, sixteen children, three educators on the floor.]
Andrea: Good morning, friends. It is time for circle time. Let's all find our spots on the carpet. Mateo, come on over. Sofia, you can sit beside Aiden — that's right, criss-cross applesauce.
[A short pause; some shuffling.]
Andrea: Okay, everyone is here. Let's start with our 'Good Morning' song. Are you ready? One, two, three —
[Andrea and the children sing together, slowly:]
Good morning, good morning, how are you, how are you?
We're all here together, we're all here together,
Good morning to you, good morning to you.
Andrea: Beautiful singing. I heard such strong voices. Now — what day is it today?
Narrator: The…